Release Detail

December 7, 2006 - New Jersey Voters Support Same-Sex Civil Unions,
Quinnipiac University Poll Finds;
Governor's Approval At New High

New Jersey voters support 60 - 35 percent a law allowing same-sex couples to form civil
unions, with the legal rights of married couples, according to a Quinnipiac University poll
released today. Only 5 percent remain undecided.

But voters oppose 50 - 44 percent a law that would allow same sex couples to get
married, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. Democrats
support gay marriage 52 - 42 percent, while independent voters support it 50 - 46 percent
and Republicans oppose it 70 - 25 percent.

"New Jersey voters are sending a clear message to the Legislature in Trenton that
they do not want gay marriage in the state, but at the same time they oppose a state
constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage," said Clay F. Richards, assistant
director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Voters approve the legalization of
civil unions for gays, but say 51 - 42 percent that if gays can be guaranteed equal rights
under the law without legalizing civil unions, that's okay too."

New Jersey voters approve 49 - 32 percent of the job Gov. Jon Corzine is doing,
his highest approval in his first year in office. This compares to a 45 - 36 percent
approval in a September 20 Quinnipiac University poll.

Sen. Frank Lautenberg gets a 44 - 33 percent approval and Sen. Robert Menendez
gets a split 39 - 37 percent score, matching his highest rating in his first year in office.

While voters approve of Corzine, they say 74 - 12 percent that he should not run
for President. Only 33 percent say he is qualified to be President.

If Corzine runs for President, only 26 percent say they "definitely" or "probably"
will vote for him, with 61 percent who say they "probably" or "definitely" won't.

"For the first time since he took office, Gov. Corzine is almost at the 50 percent
approval mark. But the Governor should not let the new support go to his head yet. New
Jersey voters don't want him to run for President and wouldn't back him if he did,"
Richards said.

Voters disapprove 70 - 26 percent of the job President George W. Bush is doing
and disapprove 75 - 22 percent of his handling of the war in Iraq. Other findings are:

64 - 32 percent say going to war in Iraq was the wrong thing to do;

65 - 18 percent say the U.S. is losing the war in Iraq;

43 - 39 percent say the U.S. is losing the war on worldwide terrorism;

58 - 36 percent support Sen. Menendez' call to get U.S. troops out of Iraq by 2008.

From November 28 - December 3, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,392 New
Jersey voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.6 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio and
nationally as a public service and for research.
For more data -- www.quinnipiac.edu and click on Institutes and Centers, or call (203) 582-5201.

1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jon Corzine is handling his job as
Governor?

10. If Jon Corzine were to run for President in 2008, how likely is it that you
would vote for him? Do you think you would definitely vote for him, probably
vote for him, probably not vote for him, or definitely not vote for him?

TREND: Would you support or oppose a law that would allow same-sex couples to
get married?

Dec 7 Nov 8
2006 2006

Support 44 41
Oppose 50 50
DK/NA 5 9

22. The New Jersey Supreme Court recently ruled that homosexual couples are
entitled to the same rights as heterosexual ones and that state legislators must
rewrite the laws to make this happen. If you had to choose, which would you prefer:
allowing same sex couples to form civil unions or allowing same sex couples to get
married?

TREND: The New Jersey Supreme Court recently ruled that homosexual couples are
entitled to the same rights as heterosexual ones and that state legislators must
rewrite the laws to make this happen. If you had to choose, which would you
prefer - allowing same-sex couples to form civil unions or allowing same-sex
couples to get married?

Dec 7 Nov 8
2006 2006

Civil unions 55 51
Get married 29 28
DK/NA 16 21

23. Some say it is possible to pass laws giving same sex couples equal legal
rights without legalizing civil unions specifically. Would you support or oppose
giving same sex couples equal rights under the law without legalizing civil
unions?

27. From what you have seen or heard about the situation in Iraq, what should
the United States do? Should the U.S. increase the number of U.S. troops in Iraq,
keep the same number of U.S. troops in Iraq as there are now, decrease the number
of U.S. troops in Iraq, or remove all its troops from Iraq?

TREND: From what you have seen or heard about the situation in Iraq, what should
the United States do? Should the U.S. increase the number of U.S. troops in Iraq,
keep the same number of U.S. troops in Iraq as there are now, decrease the number
of U.S. troops in Iraq, or remove all its troops from Iraq?